LAH vs MUL Dream11 prediction, PSL 2023: Lahore Qalandars vs Multan Sultans pitch report, injury update

It’s the battle of the titans as both sides currently occupied the top two spots in the PSL points table with Lahore Qalandars leading with 10 points (five wins) after winning four matches on the trot, three of which came at tonight’s venue.

One of their win came against Multan Sultans on the opening day of the PSL 2023 in Multan, when they pipped the hosts with a run margin in a closely-fought encounter.

Multan Sultans were holding the top spot on the table until they lost their last game against a spirited Karachi Kings by a hefty margin of 66 runs.

LAH vs MUL injury update, key players

Lahore Qalandars injury update, key players in PSL 2023

There are no fresh injury concerns for Lahore Qalandars as they head into the crucial encounter. But they will worry about their top-order as they were down to 50/7 against bottom-dwellers Quetta Gladiators before Zimbabwe all-rounder Sikandar Raza helped them recover with a knock of 34-ball 71.

Qalandars look to recover from last match’s batting collapse

Recent form of Fakhar Zaman could be key in the batting order’s recovery from the shock as the batter, prior to his 4-run innings against Quetta, scored spitfire 36 and 96 innings while hitting the most sixes (17) this PSL.

Mirza Tahir Baig cut a sorry figure in the last innings as well by scoring just 2 but has been a good deputy to Zaman with consistent knocks of 20, 5, 31, 45, 32 in the innings before that.

Abdullah Shafique scored just 15 in the last game as well after taking the PSL by storm as he scored 75 and 45 at a strike rate of 184.62 upon replacing misfiring Kamran Ghulam.

Sam Billings scored just two runs after hitting 47 and 33 in the innings and would be wary of the fact that Windies ODI captain Shai Hope is in the waiting.

Lahore overseas all-rounders hold the key

Zimbabwe all-rounder Sikandar Raza has been the man of the moment for the side after his blazing knock against Quetta and has picked three wickets as well while maintaining a reputation as a spectacular fielder.

Namibian all-rounder David Wiese hasn’t done much with the bat but has picked up seven wickets in the last four games.

Rashid Khan has made decent contributions with the bat, scoring rapid 21 and 18 in the last two innings, and has picked six wickets since arriving on February 20.

In comparison, domestic all-rounder Hussain Talat hasn’t made a telling contribution but is capable of hitting big shots and is often promoted up the order in need of runs. However, he hasn’t been relied on as a bowler off late.

Shaheen Afridi goes wicket-less in two games

Amid Lahore’s winning run, skipper Shaheen Afridi has gone without wickets in back-to-back two games. The dry spell came amid high hopes as the southpaw took a five-for against Peshawar Zalmi at the venue.

Senior pacer Haris Rauf found form at the same time as he finally picked wickets in bunch with 3/22 spell against Quetta.

Their understudy Zaman Khan went wicketless in the last game but has five wickets to his name in last four games.

Multan Sultans injury update, key players

Multan Sultans have no reported injury concerns since Joshua Little was ruled out. A lot of Mutlan’s hopes are pinned on the opening combination of Mohammad Rizwan and Shad Masood to provide a strong start to the franchise yet again.

Rizwan is currently the leading run-scorer in the tournament and the sole batter with 350-plus runs this PSL. Shan Masood has been firing runs as well with innings 25 and 51 in his last two innings.

No. 3 Rilee Rossouw scored just seven in the last game but has been in good shape as well with 225 runs in five innings, including two half-centuries.

The story is similar for David Miller, who scored just 7 in a Multan Sultan batting collapse but has been in good touch this PSL but with the top-order in good form meant he hasn’t seen much of action but has been striking at a rate beyond 160.

Kieron Pollard was dropped for the last game as Akeal Hossein was added to the squad but the bowler went for runs with 36 runs in three overs.

Likes of Khushdil Shah, Carlos Brathwaite, and Anwar Ali add to batting options down the order but haven’t seen many opportunities yet.

Multan Sultans bowling hitting at top gear

Multan Sultans’ success has also been down to their bowlers with Ihsanullah leading the Maroon Cap race with 15 wickets in six games while Abbas Afridi and Usama Mir have chipped in with 10 and 9 wickets respectively. All-rounder Anwar Ali has added further bowling options with his pace bowling.

Among other pacers, likes of Carlos Brathwaite and Mohammad Ilyas have leaked runs.

However, with the season progressing, Multan will be needing their spinners fire too and Khushdil Shah figures as an important player in that scheme. The left-arm orthodox has been economical but has picked just a wicket.

PSL 2023: Lahore Qalandars vs Multan Sultans squads

Lahore Qalandars squad Rashid Khan, Haris Rauf, Shaheen Shah Afridi (C), David Wiese, Abdullah Shafique, Kamran Ghulam, Zaman Khan, Fakhar Zaman, Hussain Talat, Sikandar Raza, Liam Dawson, Dilbar Hussain, Mirza Tahir Baig, Ahmed Danlyal, Shawaiz Irfan, Jordan Cox, Jalat Khan, Ahsan Bhatti, Sam Billings (partial replacement for Rashid Khan), Shane Dadswell (replacement for Harry Brook), Kusal Mendis (partial replacement for Jordan Cox), Shai Hope (replacement for Kusal Mendis)

Multan Sultans squad Mohammad Rizwan, Khushdil Shah, Rilee Rossouw, Shan Masood, Shahnawaz Dahani (injured, February 15), Tim David, Abbas Afridi, Ihsanullah, David Miller, Josh Little (injured, February 24), Akeal Hosein, Usama Mir, Usman Khan, Sameen Gul, Anwar Ali, Mohammad Sarwar, Arafat Minhas, Kieron Pollard, Ammad Butt, Wayne Parnell (partial/full replacement for Adil Rashid), Izharulhaq Naveed (partial replacement for David Miller), Mohammad Ilyas (replacement for Shahnawaz Dahani), Carlos Brathwaite (replaced Wayne Parnell)

Lahore Qalandars vs Multan Sultans predicted playing XI LAH vs MUL, PSL 2023

Lahore Qalandars predicted playing 11 vs Multan Sultans Fakhar Zaman, Mirza Tahir Baig, Tayyab Tahir, Abdullah Shafique, Sam Billings, Hussain Talat, Sikandar Raza, Shaheen Afridi, David Wiese, Zaman Khan, Rashid Khan

Multan Sultans predicted playing 11 vs Lahore Qalandars Mohammad Rizwan, Shan Masood, Usaman Mir, Anwar Ali, David Miller, Khushdil Shah, Rilee Rossouw, Ihsanullah, Carlos Brathwaithe, Kieron Pollard

Lahore Qalandars vs Multan Sultans pitch report LAH vs MUL

Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium pitch has swing on the offer with the new ball and it’s something that the likes of Ihsanullah and Shaheen Afridi will look to exploit. The last match suggested that scoring anything above 170 could be a winning total but seeing off the powerplay with a bit of caution could do the trick as there is runs on the offer at the surface.

LAH vs MUL Dream11 prediction Lahore Qalandars vs Multan Sultans

Wicketkeeper M Rizwan
Batsman R Rossouw, D Miller, S Masood, F Zaman, A Shafique
All-rounder D Wiese, S Raza
Bowler Rashid-Khan, Ihsanullah, H Rauf

Captain and vice-captain choices F Zaman’s and M Rizwan’s hot forms make them a good choice while S Raza comes into the game charged up after last-match heroics. Among bowlers, H Rauf and Ihsanullah have been bowling in full swing while Rashid Khan could be effective later on.